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For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE
INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE
6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? William Rhinehart Washington
What was your unit and division? 2nd Bn. 16th Inf. 1st Inf. Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Easy Red Beach H-hour plus 30 minutes
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major, AUS
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 years
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? XXXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
Did you have any children a.t that time? No
What do you do now? Lt Col regular Army
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
Fairly strong idea when we left
Sicily in Oct 1943. Definite about 5
days before invasion.
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember,
for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?
Channel crossing was choppy due
to sea condition. We actually
suffered an over confidence,
in the ability of the Air force
and Navy to "soften" the beach
defenses.
What were the rumors on boards the boat, ship or plane in which you made
the crossing? (some people remember scuttlebutt to the effect that the
Germans had poured gasoline on the water and panned to set it afire when
the troops came in).
Troops were thoroughly briefed
before we actually cleared
sight of land. No basis
for rumor - only had the facts.

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE
INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE
6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? William Rhinehart Washington
What was your unit and division? 2nd Bn. 16th Inf. 1st Inf. Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
Easy Red Beach H-hour plus 30 minutes
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major, AUS
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 25 years
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? XXXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
Did you have any children a.t that time? No
What do you do now? Lt Col regular Army
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
Fairly strong idea when we left
Sicily in Oct 1943. Definite about 5
days before invasion.
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember,
for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?
Channel crossing was choppy due
to sea condition. We actually
suffered an over confidence,
in the ability of the Air force
and Navy to "soften" the beach
defenses.
What were the rumors on boards the boat, ship or plane in which you made
the crossing? (some people remember scuttlebutt to the effect that the
Germans had poured gasoline on the water and panned to set it afire when
the troops came in).
Troops were thoroughly briefed
before we actually cleared
sight of land. No basis
for rumor - only had the facts.